Matthew 25:1-13
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS In St Matthew only.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS In St Matthew only.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΠΆΝΤΗΣΙΝ, (אBC) for ἀπάντησιν, see. 6. 1. ΤΌΤΕ. In the Last Day—the time just spoken of. ὉΜΟΙΩΘΉΣΕΤΑΙ ‘shall be like,’ not, ‘shall be compared (by me).’ The condition of the Church at the End of the World shall be like the condition of the ten virgins described in the parable. This parable is an... [ Continue Reading ]
The order μωραὶ … φρόνιμοι on decisive evidence. The striking and unexpected fact was that there were _foolish_ virgins in the group. 2. ΦΡΌΝΙΜΟΙ. Used of prudence or practical intelligence, a characteristic of the steward, ch. Matthew 24:45, and Luke 16:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑἹ ΓᾺΡ ΜΩΡΑῚ Κ.Τ.Λ. All watch for their Lord, but some only—‘the wise’—with true intensity and with due provision for the watch. The foolish virgins have sufficient oil if the Lord come quickly; not sufficient for long and patient expectation. It is a rebuke to shallow religion that dies away when t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ ΝΥΜΦΊΟΥ. The thought of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church is hardly appropriate here, for in the parable the maidens, and not the bride, are the expectant Church. The thought of the ‘children of the bridechamber,’ ch. Matthew 9:15, is a nearer parallel. ἘΝΎΣΤΑΞΑΝ ΠΑ͂ΣΑΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. ‘Nodded fro... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΡΧΕΤΑΙ, omitted after ὁ νυμφίος according to all the important codices greatly enhances the vividness of the narrative. 6. ΚΡΑΥΓῊ ΓΈΓΟΝΕΝ. ‘A cry is raised’. _fit_ sonus (Verg.). The tense gives vividness. ἘΞΈΡΧΕΣΘΕ. The Codex Alexandrinus commences at this word.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΌΣΜΗΣΑΝ. ‘Trimmed,’ by addition of oil, and by clearing the fibres with a needle.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΒΈΝΝΥΝΤΑΙ. ‘Are going out,’ not ‘are gone out,’ A.V. A picture in the newly discovered Codex Rossanensis (sixth cent.) gives this point accurately. Three of the foolish virgins hold torches nearly extinguished, but still burning. This parable is a favourite subject in the catacombs.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ� is upheld with אALZ of the uncials against οὐ μὴ� with BCD and several late uncials. See Winer, p. 632, and Dr Moulton’s note 3. This is the first appeal to Codex A. 9. ΜΉΠΟΤΕ ΟΥ̓Κ�. The bridal procession was still to be made in which there would be need of burning lamps. The wise cannot impa... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΤΟῪΣ ΓΆΜΟΥΣ. To the marriage feast, as ch. Matthew 22:2. The happiness of the blest is often described by the image of a great supper, cp. ch. Matthew 26:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΎΡΙΕ ΚΎΡΙΕ. Cp. ch. Matthew 7:22-23.... [ Continue Reading ]
The _textus receptus_ after ὥραν reads ἐν ᾖ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ�. But all the ancient testimony is against the insertion. 13. ΓΡΗΓΟΡΕΙ͂ΤΕ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. Our Lord’s explanation of the parable, shewing the true purport of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡΈΔΩΚΕΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΤᾺ ὙΠΆΡΧΟΝΤΑ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. Cp. Mark 13:34. ‘A man taking a far journey, who left his house and gave authority (rather, his authority) to his servants, and to every man his work.’ Christ in his absence gives to each a portion of his own authority and of his own work on earth. A great d... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PARABLE OF THE TALENTS, in this Gospel only. The parable of the Pounds, Luke 19:12-27, is similar, but there are important points of distinction; (1) in regard to the occasions on which the two parables are given; (2) in the special incidents of each. The lesson is still partly of watchfulnes... [ Continue Reading ]
ὯΙ ΜῈΝ ἜΔΩΚΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. In the parable of the Pounds or ‘minæ’ (Luke 19), each subject receives one pound. Here the truth is indicated that there is variety in the services wrought for God in respect of dignity and of difficulty. More will be required of the influential and enlightened than of the igno... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΡΕΥΘΕῚΣ … ΕἸΡΓΆΣΑΤΟ. The ideas of trade and travelling were very nearly connected in ancient times, as the Greek words for traffic shew: ἔμπορος, ἐμπορία, ἐμπορεύομαι, πωλέω. Cp. also the connection between _venio, veneo_ and _vendito, ventito_. See James 4:13, Ἄγε νῦν οἱ λέγοντες· Σήμερον ἢ αὔριο... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΕΤᾺ ΠΟΛῪΝ ΧΡΌΝΟΝ. Another hint that the second coming of Christ would be long deferred. ΣΥΝΑΊΡΕΙ ΛΌΓΟΝ. ‘Reckoneth with them,’ in order to have his stipulated share of the profits. συναίρ. λόγ. Not a classical expression; it appears in this Gospel only, and may have been a business phrase familiar... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠῚ ὈΛΊΓΑ ΠΙΣΤΌΣ. Accusative from notion of extending over. ἐπὶ πολλῶν, over or upon, without the closer connection indicated by ἐπὶ with the dative. ΕἼΣΕΛΘΕ ΕἸΣ ΤῊΝ ΧΑΡᾺΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ ΣΟΥ. Either (1) share the life of happiness which thy lord enjoys, and which shall be the reward of thy zeal; or (2... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΑΒῺΝ after τάλαντα omitted (ABCL, &c.), inserted (אD, &c.).... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΕἸΛΗΦΏΣ. A variety from ὁ λαβών, Matthew 25:16. ΕἾΠΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. This slave anticipates his lord’s condemnation; ‘qui s’excuse s’accuse.’ ΣΚΛΗΡΌΣ. ἄνθρωπον μὲν σκληρὸν λὲγουσι τὸν μονότροπον καὶ δυσπειθῆ καὶ πρὸς ἅπαν�. Galen, quoted by Wetstein. ΣΥΝΆΓΩΝ ὍΘΕΝ ΟΥ̓ ΔΙΕΣΚΌΡΠΙΣΑΣ. i.e. ‘gathering into... [ Continue Reading ]
ἬΙΔΕΙΣ ὍΤΙ … ΔΙΕΣΚΌΡΠΙΣΑ; ‘Thou knewest that I was,’ &c.? It is an interrogation _ex concesso_. The Lord does not admit the truth of this description, but judges the slave from his own standpoint. Even a low conception of the divine nature brings some responsibility, and has some promise of reward.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ�. It was not thine own. ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΊΤΑΙΣ. To the bankers, who set up tables or counters (τράπεζαι) for the purpose of lending or exchanging money. In the cities of eastern Russia Jewish bankers (τραπεζῖται) are still to be seen seated at their tables in the market-place. Such bankers’ tables in... [ Continue Reading ]
The thought conveyed by this verse is true, even in worldly matters: talents not used pass away from their possessor: and the strenuous worker seems to gather to himself what is lost by the idle. Demosthenes says (_Phil._ i. 5) ‘the possessions of the negligent belong of right to those who will endu... [ Continue Reading ]
ἍΓΙΟΙ, omitted before ἂγγελοι (אBDL and others). A heads the evidence for the retention of ἅγιοι.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY OF JUDGMENT... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΝΤΑ ΤᾺ ἜΘΝΗ. Either (1) all the nations of the world, including the Jews; or (2) all the Gentiles. The almost invariable use of τὰ ἔθνη to signify the Gentiles; the unconsciousness of service to Christ shewn by just and unjust alike; the simplicity of the standard proposed by the Judge, favour the... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses are constructed according to the rules of Hebrew poetry: they fall into two divisions, the _first_ extends from Matthew 25:34-40, the _second_ from Matthew 25:41-46. Each division consists of a triplet or stanza of three lines containing the sentence of the Judge (Matthew 25:34 answerin... [ Continue Reading ]
35, 36. There is a climax in this enumeration. The first three are recognised duties, the last three are voluntary acts of self-forgetting love. Common humanity would move a man to relieve his bitterest foe when perishing by hunger or by thirst (see Romans 12:20). Oriental custom required at least a... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΦʼ ὍΣΟΝ. ‘So far as,’ ἐπὶ denotes the point to which the action extends. ἘΜΟῚ ἘΠΟΙΉΣΑΤΕ. This unconscious personal service of Christ may be contrasted with the conscious but unreal knowledge of Christ assumed by false prophets; see Luke 13:26. Christ identifies Himself with his Church, as in his... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΗΡΑΜΈΝΟΙ. Without the article (אBL) against AD and many other uncials and fathers. The participle alone gives a reason, or indicates a state or condition, ‘under your curse;’ with the article it denotes a class.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΟΙ. The position of the personal pronouns throughout is emphatic.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΦʼ ὍΣΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. Men will be judged not only for evil done, but for good left undone. In this view sins are regarded as debts (ὀφειλήματα) unpaid.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟὟΤΟΙ. Those on the left are unnamed here and throughout the description, but the parallel δίκαιοι infuses a meaning into οὗτοι. Compare with this the unnamed rich man in the parable of Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31. In this important passage αἰώνιος is translated in A.V. _everlasting_ (punishment) and (li... [ Continue Reading ]